Little League Can a Catcher Pitch and Then Catch Again

• COACHING MANUAL
• CATCHERS
• Start Base
• OUTFIELD
• MIDDLE INFIELD
• Tertiary Base
• THROWING
• BASE RUNNING

WILTON LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

Positional Clinics – Catcher

Stretches and Building Forcefulness

• Discuss catcher-specific stretches (in particular, for the lower torso) and exercises that can be performed at home
  • Lower-torso stretches and exercises
    • High knees
    • Butt kicks
    • Side shuffle and cariocas
    • High kick
    • Hip cradle
    • Walking and side lunges
    • Caterpillar walk
  • Explosive cake-to-spring practise
  • Arm, shoulder and body stretches
  • Throwing progression and long toss

Positioning and Opinion

• Placement backside dwelling plate relative to the concoction
  • Prepare upwards a couple of inches to the correct of center of home plate – allows for more effective framing of the pitch
  • The catcher should be able to touch the batter'southward back knee with his glove when in the hunker
    • Allows the catcher to receive the ball every bit close equally possible to the batter's strike zone, providing the umpire with the best view of where the ball actually crosses the strike zone
    • Puts the catcher in the best position to receive or block low pitches
    • Positions the catcher closer to the bases for throw-downs
• Feet
  • Approximately shoulder-width apart with toes pointing slightly outwards, assuasive the catcher to shift his weight easily
  • Weight slightly towards the inside front edges of the feet (never flat-footed), allowing the catcher to push off and move laterally rapidly
  • With a runner on base , the catcher may place his 'plant foot' (on throwing-hand side) slightly behind the other foot, allowing for a quicker transfer into throwing position
• Upper torso
  • Shoulders squared to the pitcher with a relatively direct dorsum, creating a well-defined target for the pitcher
  • With a runner on base , the catcher may position his throwing shoulder slightly behind the other shoulder, allowing for a quicker transfer into throwing position
• Hunker
  • Behind should be below the knees only should not exist resting on heels once the pitcher begins his wind-up
    • Allows the catcher to remain in a depression, stable position, while giving the umpire a better view of the pitch and the strike zone
    • Creates an active, flexible position from which the catcher can react to the pitch
  • "Primary" vs. "secondary" position – one time the catcher gives the signs to the pitcher, he should be in the "active" position described above, fifty-fifty if in that location are no baserunners
    • Meliorate position to cake low pitches and field bunts or short ground assurance
    • With a runner on base, slight shift of weight towards the forepart of the anxiety
  • Placement of throwing hand
    • Beginners:  outside of throwing-side ankle or shin
    • More avant-garde:  tucked into belly, behind the glove
• Most importantly , make sure that, when you are in your stance, you lot are balanced, loose and comfortable

DRILL:  Two-player focus drill, with 2 players facing each other (about 8 feet abroad) in the proper catcher'southward stance, and simultaneously soft-tossing a brawl to each other

Receiving the Pitch

• Goal:  After the pitch is defenseless, the ball (and the glove) should move every bit picayune equally possible
• When giving the target, the catcher's receiving arm should be relatively loose with a slight bend at the elbow
• As the pitch is arriving, the catcher'due south receiving arm should begin to straighten
  • Attempt to accept the mitt beat the ball to the 'spot' (i.eastward., where the pitch volition exist caught)
  • Receiving arm in a stiff, relatively straight position at the time that the pitch is caught
  • The more rigid the catcher's receiving arm at the moment the pitch is caught, the less glove movement the ball volition cause upon impact
  • Concord the ball in place to brand sure that the umpire has a good view of the location – agree until the umpire makes the ball/strike call
• The catcher'due south paw should have a slight 'give' at the moment of impact to avoid the ball popping out of the glove
• Holding the glove
  • Pretend that you lot are making an "L" with your receiving hand
    • Results in the receiving arm beginning in a relaxed position before the pitch is thrown, with the receiving elbow near the thigh
  • The hand should exist wide open, giving the pitcher a large target
  • Where the glove is held depends on the game state of affairs, simply typically square the glove between your shoulders and slightly below the batter'due south knee joint
• With a runner on base , the catcher may want the ball to travel closer to his body
• Brief give-and-take on pitch framing – framing is for borderline pitches
  • Goals are to (1) have as little movement in the manus every bit possible after the ball is defenseless and (2) angle the ball dorsum towards home plate by getting the mitt 'around' the ball
  • Slight 'sway' in body position to square the hand with the catcher's shoulders
• Cursory discussion on giving signs
  • Keep the signs high, using legs and manus-side arm to cake view of the base coaches and the runners on first and third base

DRILL:  Soft-hands drill using a tennis ball, with the catcher using his bare hand to catch and absorber the pitch

DRILL: Short-toss drill using baseball game and glove, focusing on glove placement, cushioning the pitch and getting the glove to the 'spot' with a strong arm

• The catcher must track the pitch from the moment that the ball leaves the pitcher's hand to the moment that the ball is caught
  • 'Soft focus' on the pitcher'due south release betoken rather than focusing intently on the ball during the pitcher's delivery motion
• For pitches that are far off the plate, the catcher should take a jab-footstep toward the direction that the ball is traveling rather than trying to over-extend by reaching for the brawl

DRILL:  'Rapid toss' drill from about fifteen anxiety away

Blocking

• Goal: Keep the ball in between your body and the pitcher's mound
• Blocking motility
  • (1) Drop manus perpendicular to (and in contact with) the ground to cover the catcher's 'five pigsty', with the throwing hand positioned behind the mitt and (2) drop to your knees
    • The mitt and hands pb the knees
    • Do not pinch knees together – create a larger blocking area
    • Get to your knees as quickly as possible, and focus on weight moving forrard to cut the ball off closer to the point of bear on if the ball volition bounce in forepart of the plate
  • Other points to remember
    • Thumbs should indicate out towards the dugouts, exposing the biceps and forearms (rather than the elbows and wrists) to the ball
    • Body should be in a semi-upright position with shoulders slightly rounded
    • Toes should exist pointed towards the dugout, and your behind should remainder on your heels
    • Chin tucked into the chest
  • Lookout the ball into your trunk, and try to absorb the ball into the abdomen of the chest protector
  • Lateral motility
    • (1) Use the foot opposite the direction that the catcher is moving to propel lateral blocking motion, (2) touch downward on the knee opposite the direction that the catcher is moving and (3) angle hips and shoulders 'around' the ball
    • For a pitch that is far outside the strike zone, step out (and slightly forwards) with the foot closest to the brawl, and let the opposite human knee elevate towards that human foot

DRILL:  (i) Stationary 3-ball form drill, (2) rolling ball drill, (three) live blocking drill (no hands) and (4) alive blocking drill (hands)

• Retrieving a blocked ball
  • Utilize both arms to push body dorsum into a standing position, with momentum moving towards the ball
  • Approach the brawl as if y'all were approaching a bunted ball
• Full general rule:   Anticipate having to block the ball on each pitch, and try to avert 'picking' balls in the clay (exception is when the backstop is not deep and in that location is a baserunner on beginning or second base)

Throwing Out Baserunners

• Lower torso and footwork
  • Goal:  No more than two brusk, quick steps before releasing the brawl
  • Throwing to second base
    • In the crouch, mitt-hand foot should start slightly in front of the throwing-hand foot
    • Throwing-hand human foot replaces the hand-hand foot with a quick jab stride, and the mitt-hand pes steps straight towards 2nd base
      • Allows for momentum to continue towards the target
      • Tin initiate the motion earlier the pitch arrives
      • If the pitch is not in the strike zone, then may need to take an initial step towards the ball with the human foot that is closer to the brawl
    • "Jump-pivot" motion – both feet motility at the same fourth dimension, with the throwing-hand human foot being positioned below the backside and the mitt-hand foot approximately where the target was given
      • Non ideal for pitches outside of the strike zone
  • Throwing to third base
    • Right-handed thrower
      • For balls over the plate or inside on a right-handed batter, cantankerous the right foot backside the left foot, and pace towards tertiary base of operations with the left foot – forces the catcher to stay behind the batter
      • For balls outside to a correct-handed concoction, jab stab with correct human foot towards the left-hand concoction'due south box (and slightly forward), and and so pace towards third base of operations with the left foot – forces the catcher to stay in front of the concoction
    • Left-handed thrower
      • Use left foot as a pin, and step towards third base with the right foot
      • Equally an culling, drive the right knee towards the third base line and into the clay, and throw
  • Throwing to first base (pick-off)
    • Right-handed thrower
      • Apply right foot equally a pin, and stride towards first base with the left foot
      • As an alternative, drive the left knee towards the start base of operations line and into the dirt, and throw
    • Left-handed thrower
      • If a right-handed batter is upwards, drib the right knee to the basis and throw
      • If a left-handed concoction is upward, cross the left foot behind the correct pes towards, and step towards first base of operations
  • Back foot – want the toe slightly in front of the heel and weight towards the instep, which assists in creating momentum towards the target
• Upper body
  • Stay low and keep your caput on the target
  • Practise not over-shut shoulders – mitt-side shoulder should be pointing directly at target
  • Ball transfer
    • Remove the ball from your paw every bit y'all are bringing both your mitt and your throwing hand towards your throwing-side ear
    • Practise getting a four-seam fastball grip on the brawl
    • Dorsum of the throwing hand should be slightly behind (and facing) the throwing-side ear before throwing – avoid brusk-arming the throw, but exercise non reach back too far
  • Throwing motion
    • Before throwing, mitt-side elbow should be pointing at the target
    • Throwing arm'southward arc should exist directly at the target for as long as possible – this volition keep the throw from tailing
    • Try to keep the mitt centered in front of your chest equally you throw – this will prevent your shoulders from flying open

DRILL:  Throws to second base and third base, with both a right-handed and left-handed concoction

Bunts and Short Footing Balls

• Budgeted the ball
  • Right-handed thrower
    • If the brawl is upwardly the middle or up the first base line, come 'around' the ball from the left side – quick two-step motion towards first base
    • If the ball is up the tertiary base line, come 'around' the ball from the right side – found right foot and step with left human foot towards the base
  • Left-handed thrower
    • If the brawl is up the heart or upwards the first base line, come 'around' the ball from the right side – quick two-step motion towards first base of operations
    • If the ball is upward the third base line, come 'effectually' the ball from the left side – plant left foot and stride with the correct pes towards the base
• Use the throwing manus to scoop the brawl into the paw when picking the ball up – helps the catcher get a grip on the ball
  • If the ball is spinning in place, button the ball into the ground with the throwing hand
• Stay low during the entire motion
• For balls that are close to the first-base line, the catcher (if time permits) should take a stride back towards the pitcher's mound to provide a articulate lane for the throw

DRILL:  Over-the-shoulder tosses to replicate bunts

Plays at the Plate

• Force play
  • If no chance for a double-play, position yourself in front end of the plate, with the right foot on the front-right corner of the plate – this will assistance avoid a collision at the plate
    • Shoulders should exist squared to the position player throwing the ball
    • Utilise two hands to catch the ball
  • If the catcher plans to try for a double-play, start behind the plate, and meet the ball as information technology arrives, dragging throwing-side human foot beyond the plate to provide the umpire with a clear view that the force out was made at abode
• Tag plays
  • Catcher should position himself in front of the plate, with his left foot near the top-left corner of the plate
  • Shoulders should be squared towards the person throwing the ball to provide a big target, and the catcher'due south trunk should be low to the ground
  • Equally the brawl arrives, brand certain that the left foot is pointing upward the third-base line, exposing the left shin (rather than the left-articulatio genus) to the baserunner
  • Driblet the correct knee towards the left human foot in order to block the plate
  • Glove should be low to the ground, and the ball should be held firmly in the glove with the throwing mitt (with the throwing hand 'backside' the glove in order to protect information technology from the baserunner)
  • Keep caput down
• The catcher is non permitted to block the plate until he has the brawl, so remember to position yourself in front end of the plate while pending the throw
• Briefly discuss adjustment the relay and calling "cut"
• Nigh importantly , the catcher must brand sure that he makes the catch before attempting to apply the tag

DRILL:  Catcher taking relay from LF, CF and RF, and getting into the proper blocking position

Passed Ball Recovery

• Approaching the ball
  • Approach the ball from the catcher'southward throwing-hand side
  • Side on shin guards 'around' the ball, leading with the throwing-paw side
  • Recover the brawl with your bare mitt and brand an overhand, knee-high throw towards the third-base side of home plate

DRILL:  Passed ball recovery drill with the charabanc pitching and roofing domicile plate

Pop Flies

• Most chiefly , step out in front end of the plate and locate the ball
• The catcher's back should immediately turn towards the pitcher'southward mound
• Do not constitute yourself directly below the ball because the spin of the ball is going to crusade it to motility dorsum towards the bullpen's mound
• Employ 2 hands – the throwing hand should be at the side of the open mitt, ready to trap the ball once it is caught

DRILL:  Communicable pop flies, beginning in the crouch

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Source: http://www.wiltonlittleleague.org/Page.asp?n=117575&org=WLLTest

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